Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm, Baron von

Introduction

Leibniz or Leibnitz, Gottfried Wilhelm, Baron von both: gôt´frēt vĭl´hĕlm bärôn´ fan līp´nĭts [key], 1646–1716, German philosopher and mathematician, b. Leipzig. Although known primarily as a philosopher, Leibniz's scholarship embraced the physical sciences, history, law, diplomacy, and logic. The recognition of his work in logic came quite late; manuscripts published in the 20th cent. mark him as the founder of symbolic logic.